Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 388 — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“The man referred to was heavier in build than Andres, with a sullen, hang-dog counte- nance that ought to have made him repulsive Lo any woman. e was watching the dancers with a glare of dull ferocity in bis eyes. So uadisguised was his jealousy that it had made bim the butt of sev- eral wits in the company, to the merriment of others who were afraid to chaff him themselves. ‘1 tell you, my dear,” said one of the gossips, ‘“‘harm will come to Andres’s recklessness, Rafaelle Milado is not the sort of a man that it is safe to trifle with.” ‘Did you ever see such an outrageous flirt?” wasthereply, ‘‘ Will it not be Lola’s fault if they come to blood over her? I believe that she wishes to gratify her vanity with the sensa- tion of a murder on her account.” ‘‘ How charitable you are, little one!” cried a gallant who had overheard the last words. **But then Senorita Lola is so charming that she must expect no mercy from any of her own sex, who hold beauty—rival beauty—the un- pardonable sin!”’ And tapping the lady on the shoulder with the fringe of bis scarf, be ran off, laughing at her flush of anger. All this was preparing the way for events that followed, The dance ended. Andres suddenly _be- thought him that he was awaited without, and took his leave with a burried word to his part- ner, who smiled upon him sweetly. She was joined by the black-browed Milado, who said: ‘*Come, sweetheart! it is high time that I had some little of your attention,” “You might bave more of it if you were more agreeable!” was the spirited retort, ‘‘T am tired of dancing attendance on your whims,” retorted the fellow. ‘‘ Besides, I can gain my end without playing the fool at your capricious apron-string.” ‘Your end?’ returned the girl, scornfully. ‘“You can gain no end with me by playing sither the fool or the brute, wbich is more in keeping with your nature!” ‘“Well, the time is at band when you shall know that I have not brought you up for the amusement of every spindleshanks that chances this way!” ‘ **And for what have you brought me up, pray?” * Wor myself, my dear!” The girl uttered a fierce ejaculation of scorn. **Do you think me still a child, that you can make me believe that | am your slave because so far I have kept youin money fordrink? Ra- faelle Milado, | may as well tell you, once for all, that I have taken from you the last abuse I intend to! From childhood up I have always disliked you as much as [feared you. Nowl still dislike you, without any longer fearing you. If you do not wish me to hate you, and shake off the yoke of your tyranny, I advise you to drop the tone you have assumed toward me of late. I amno longer a child, as you have said; but it does not follow that [ must look upon you as my future master. A fine honor it would be to call you husband!” And she laughed scornfully, In ber anger she bad raised her voice until all those in her vicinity heard her rejection of the man who had been to her thus far a sort of guardian, until her budding womanhood led him to aspire to the rights of a husband, ‘‘Heyday!” cried the gossip before mention- ed, ‘*Here’s a fine rebellion! These chits of things are women before they are out of pan- talets! It was not soin my day, when children were taught modesty.” st fae Wie ago that must have been, for the senora to have so completely forgotten her early instruction!” laughed the gallant who had be- fore punished her ill-natured remark. A general laugh followed this sally. The lady at whose expense it was, crimsoned through her paint with rage, Milado turned a dull purple, at his share of the public scorn, ‘* Hark you!” be muttered in Lola’s ear, ‘‘if I see any more of your coquetry, 1 will teach you who is master here!” **Look out tbat you don’t getithe worst of the bargain!” sent back the girl, with a fine flash in her eyes. They were words that would be remembered against her presently by her enemies—envious women. Meanwhile Andres had gone out and joined his patron, Senor Valanquez. ‘‘ Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself!” said that worthy gentleman, sulkily. ‘‘ Por Dios!” laughed the giddy Spaniard, "Little Oh-my. — ‘* would heaven bave vouchsafed women and music if we were not to be merry? True, the whisky with which these Americanos replace Wiue is vile stuff; but it puts life into the heels, for all that. And the breath of the divine Lola would take from the palate a far worse taste : than it leaves!”’ ‘‘ When you’re ready fur business,” interposed Rube Martin, in the cold tone with which a man h sits down” on another, ‘‘ we’ll talk busi- ness.’ ‘“ What would you?” asked the Spaniard, with a shrug. “is everything in readiness?’ asked Senor Valanquez. ‘**At the first signal, those who are to attend to the lights—what you call, Senor Rubio?— douse the glim?—they will get into position. At the second signoal—hey, presto! we have a fine uproar. Then comes the cry:—‘ The lights! the lights!’—and we are in darkness, Now arises a cry— But, senors, it would be un- gracious to anticipate the drama,” ‘* Then pasty Cee arranged to insure a complete success? e must have no bung- ling.’ ‘* Senor Valanquez, we lack but one thing.” * And what is that?” ‘*The universal lubricator!” And showing his teeth in a radiant smile, Senor Andres Ystavian rubbed his hands signi- ficantly. Senor Valanquez silently drew a plethoric purse from some receptacle in ‘his clothes, and tendered it to Andres, The latter threw up his hands, with a little ery of affected dismay. ‘l!” he exclaimed, ‘“ Would I hang sucha millstone about my neck? It goes to Carlos, as arranged, When he gives us the signal that all is concluded between you, the drama will begin, But there is no harm in balancing it in one’s palm. My faith! it hath a goodly bulk! And gold—all gold, my excellent cousin?” ‘‘Knough to keep the lot of you in aguardi- ent for a six-month!” assured Martin, a little contemptuously, ‘* Where is Carlos?” asked Valanquez, ‘‘Here, there, everywhere! Who can tell?’ cried Andres, airily. ‘‘ When you least expect him, he will appear at your elbow. But you need not trouble yourself to look for him. He has a most extraordinary scent for gold. But there is the divine redowa! Lola has promised me a few more moments in heaven! I would not lose a measure for all your druss! Hasta)’ And be was away with a gay troll, Rube Martin muttered an oath. ‘‘The Gresser dog! He goes tosell out that girl that loves him, an’ that he’s half in love with himself, as chipper as if—” ‘“Don’t waste your indignation,” interrupted Senor Valanquez, who overbeard the latter part of his words, ‘She is not in love with him, nor he with her, It is only your cold-blooded north- ern indifference that makes the least sentiment seem to you a grand passion. Eb! Caramba!” He started violently, as some one appeared at his elbow, ‘*T did not know that Senor Valanquez was so profound a moralizer!” said a deep voice out of the darkness, ** Carlos!” exclaimed the startled Spaniard, ** At your service, senor!” And the speaker stood, hat in hand, bowing low in mock deference. ‘*T suppose there is not much more to be said?” observed Valanquez. : ‘*'Your servant prefers action,” was the signi- ficant rejoinder. ‘* How is this to your taste?” And he passed over she purse he had before tendered Andres, ‘*‘Senor, it is the silent eloquence to which there is no reply!” You are at liberty to count it, if you are not satisfied with the weight.” ‘Tt shall be counted to-morrow,” “ After your work is done? I thought that Don Carlos was more cautious than that,” ‘‘Don Carlos has a way of settling fraudulent accounts that leaves few willing to become his debtors by indirection.” ‘¢ An oily devil!” muttered Rube. ‘‘That was an ugly hint!” Senor Valanquez made no reply. There was room for none; for as silently as he had made his appearance, Don Carlos vanished, as if into thin air. Neither of his interlocutors had seen his face, He had come like a shadow, and gone likea shadow. Tbe dimly perceived outlines of a cloak anda slouch lat had effectually concealed his figure. me Pd gt s* oP ” : ‘ But Rube Martin haa received a strange im- pression, ‘‘Blow me if I don’t believe that Don Carlos and Senor Andres are so closely related that one takes off bis boots when the other goes to bed! His voice was certainly disguised. But he’sa lightning-change artist if it is him,” While this was passing in his thoughts his companion caught him by the arm, ‘“Now for your part! Ste will believe you, being an American.” ‘*That is very well said, my friend! Bein’ an American! Well, bein’ an American, it strikes me that thar’s a lot of us, all pitchio’ on to one little girl, an’ a beauty at that!” * Ha! you do not repent? You will not betray us{ The Spaniard was in a fever of excitement in the instant. ‘What do you take me fur?” demanded Mar- tin, with a fine air, ‘‘Pardon!” exclaimed the other, seeing his mistake. ‘‘ lt was but the anxiety of the great stake,” ‘* Waal, take my advice, an’ keep cool in the future,”’ ‘‘Hark! It is precipitated!’ And from the dance-house proceeded cries of excitement. A moment later the lights went out, and then all was the wildest confusion. CHAPTER III, DON CARLOS. IN the middle of the road appeared a man on horseback, with a leveled revolver, ‘Keep on!” whispered the Spaniard in the ear of the driver, ) “And git bored?’ objected Con. ‘*‘ Excuse me, ef you please. Do you obsarve, my Chbris- tian friend, that that thar weepon is p’inted at me, individually and collectively?’ And he drew up his horses as commanded, ““This hyar ain’t none o’ my funeral, ye on- derstand,” he pursued. ‘ You fights it out amongst yerselves. I’m paid fur drivin’, I am!’ “Very well, then!” returned Senor Fabriano; ‘** here is the opening shot!” And erly drawing his revolver, he fired at the road-agent. The latter fired a return shot just as his horse reared in the air. A asd ye hit?” asked Con of the man at his side, The Spaniard did not reply, but catching the whip out of the driver’s hand, lashed his borses into a run, Heads were thrust out of the coach on either side, and an indiscriminate warfare ensued, the outlaws appearing from the undergrowth flank- ing the road, Oaths and yells blended with the reports of firearms; and the tramping of the horses mingled with the rumble of the coach. In that running fight the actors could not be very clearly distinguished; but those within the coach considered all without it their enemies, But a strange thing was observed, The road- agents seemed to get into a fight among them- selves. They soon outstripped the coach, and went on down the road ata furious pace, yelling and firing at each other as they went. ‘*How do you account for that?’ asked the Spaniard. “‘T ain’t accountin’ fur nothin’!” responded Con, a little sulkily. ‘“‘Ef you want to git drivers that’s accountin’ fur every queer thing that bappens on the road, you’ll have to guaran- tee ’em a dog-gone sight more'n we git out o’ the transportation company !” ‘‘ Tt may be that they have bad a falling-out among themselves. That would be a reason why one party should warn us against the rest. ‘“Have it your own way,” assented Con, ‘Ef that suits you, I’m sure it suits me,” ‘There was one thing that I noticed,” con- tinued the Spaniard. ‘‘ The leader of the ruffians was @ very young mana mere lad, I should say. ‘ I don’t see how you come at that,” observed one of the inside passengers, ‘‘He wore a mask, I made it out clearly by the flash of his revolver.” “True,” admitted the Spaniard; “but my uide washis voice. I think I sball recognize i if [ hear it again. At first he disguised his voice as well as his face; but in the beat of ac- tion, he allowed himself to be thrown off bis guard, It was then that his true tones came out, : 7